Election 2022

WhatMatters

Newsom to lead anti-Jan. 6 march to Capitol

Over the next few days, very different events will take place in downtown Sacramento. Today, Gov. Gavin Newsom is set to march to the state Capitol with a group of ticketed supporters before being sworn into office for his second term, according to an invitation enclosed in a late December campaign email. About 1,000 people […]

By Emily Hoeven • January 6, 2023

WhatMatters

Why 20 votes matter in California, Washington, D.C.

One shared takeaway from the otherwise very different starts to new legislative sessions in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.: What a difference 20 votes make. The Legislature that reconvened Wednesday in the California Capitol is the most diverse in state history, with a record 50 women — although there’s still a slim possibility that number could […]

By Emily Hoeven • January 5, 2023

WhatMatters

California cements abortion rights, flavored tobacco ban

Note: The newsletter will pause until Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. Happy holidays and happy New Year! If you were reading the text of the California Constitution on Wednesday — as one does — you would have noticed a new line: “The state shall not deny or interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most […]

By Emily Hoeven • December 22, 2022

Politics

Buried treasure: California politicians stash $35 million in leftover campaign cash

Nearly 100 committees are sitting on $35 million in leftover campaign funds. Candidates could give the cash to charity or return it to their donors, but many hold on to the money to retain political influence or to possibly run again.

By Alexei Koseff and Ben Christopher • December 21, 2022

WhatMatters

How California is dealing with 3 elections at once

Most of the remaining loose ends from California’s Nov. 8 election were tied up Monday — though at least one especially close race appears to remain unresolved and election battles from 2020 and 2024 continue to intensify. First, Democrat Christy Holstege conceded her bid for an open state Assembly seat stretching across Riverside and San […]

By Emily Hoeven • December 13, 2022

Commentary

Karen Bass’ ability to curb Los Angeles homelessness will test California Democrats – and government itself

Los Angeles has been forced to reboot before, and this time the job falls to Karen Bass, the first woman elected as mayor of the nation's second-largest city. She promised urgent action on homelessness at her swearing-in ceremony on Sunday. Her ability to make visible progress has implications for Democrats in California and nationally.

By Jim Newton • December 12, 2022

WhatMatters

An unusual start to the legislative session

Today is shaping up to be a pretty unusual day in Sacramento. Newly elected state lawmakers will be descending on the Capitol to be sworn into office — even though two seats are still up in the air. That’s because, by some measures, California is in the middle of two of its closest legislative races […]

By Emily Hoeven • December 5, 2022

WhatMatters

A changing of the guard in Sacramento

Three days before California’s new state Legislature is set to be sworn into office — and to convene a special session focused on oil industry profits — it’s still not clear who will occupy two of the seats. As of Thursday evening, Democrat Christy Holstege and Republican Greg Wallis each had 50% of the vote […]

By Emily Hoeven • December 2, 2022

Commentary

California elections finally had national relevance. Democrats didn’t capitalize

The Democratic Party could regret its failure to better coordinate campaigns in California and spend more money on congressional races that helped determine control of the House of Representatives.

By Julia Rosen • November 28, 2022

WhatMatters

California election results near final form

Note: The newsletter will pause until Tuesday, Nov. 29 for the holiday weekend. Happy Thanksgiving! And then there was one. Just one California race for a U.S. House of Representatives seat remained too close to call as of Tuesday, two weeks after the Nov. 8 election: With about 335,000 unprocessed ballots left to count, Republican […]

By Emily Hoeven • November 23, 2022